Effects of Tongxinshu Capsules on Inflammatory Microenvironments and Myocardial Cell Apoptosis in Hearts of Rats with Myocardial Infarction

doi:10.19803/j.1672-8629.20250535

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To explore the role of Tongxinshu capsules, a traditional Chinese patent medicine, in mitigating heart inflammation and apoptosis in rats with myocardial infarction. Methods A myocardial infarction model was established in rats with left anterior descending artery ligation. Fifty rats were divided into five groups: the normal group (Normal), sham operation group (Sham), model group (Model), Tongxinshu group (TXSC), and positive control Western medicine group (Positive), with 10 rats in each. The number of NLRP3 inflammasomes in the heart was measured by immunohistochemistry, and the levels of inflammatory factors in the serum were determined. The indicators of total bile acids in the serum and cardiac tissue of rats with myocardial infarction were observed. The degree of myocardial cell apoptosis was determined by TUNEL staining, and the levels of apoptosis related proteins, Bax, and Bcl-2 were detected by Western blot. Results Tongxinshu capsules could reduce NLRP3 in the heart tissue of myocardial infarction rats(P<0.01), decrease serum levels of IL-1β (P<0.01) and TNF-α (P<0.05), and increase the thymus body mass index (P<0.05). They could also significantly reduce levels of total bile acids in both serum and cardiac tissue (P<0.05). Conclusion Tongxinshu capsules can reduce inflammatory infiltration in the heart and serum, thereby improving the immune environment of the body after myocardial infarction. Reducing bile acids can help alleviate lipid toxicity and ameliorate inflammatory infiltration. This drug has a significant antiapoptotic effect on the myocardium after myocardial infarction by mitigating myocardial apoptosis and decreasing the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 proteins.

Key words: Tongxinshu Capsules, Myocardial Infarction, Qi Deficiency and Blood Stasis Syndrome, Inflammatory Microenvironment, Apoptosis, Rats

CLC Number:

R965

LI Na, YAO Kuiwu. Effects of Tongxinshu Capsules on Inflammatory Microenvironments and Myocardial Cell Apoptosis in Hearts of Rats with Myocardial Infarction[J]. Chinese Journal of Pharmacovigilance, 2026, 23(2): 141-146.

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